I wake up every morning to the sound of motors roaring
they are drowning out the voices in my head
at night while I am sleeping I can hear the angels speaking but I can't recall a single thing they said
I see their lips move clearly I feel their presence near me
but each word they try to tell me just slips through the cracks
I push I strain I wrestle with my brain and then a voice from somewhere whispers to relax.

I'll say a word for sickness
she is my favorite mistress
yes she knows my body like no other can
my flesh and spirit keep colliding when her fingers are inside me
oh my god oh my god, lady
I'm your man
Fever flu malaria come near me
do not spare me
I just long to spend another night under attack
I retch, I shake, I cry until I break
and then I feel something release and I relax

I've banged my head for days against the walls inside this maze
I've never been too good at this damn kind of thing
I'm in here with my father I'm just pacing but he's smarter
he's been building a fantastic set of wings
and like that I'm up and flying
with the labyrinth behind me
but I go too high
the sun is melting through the wax
it burns it hurts I tumble to the earth and as I fall I feel myself relax.


Am I letting go? I think I'm letting go.
I must be letting go.
I've got to let it go. Let it go. Let it go. Let it go.

I wake up every morning
to the sound of motors roaring
they are drowning out these voices in my head
at night while I am sleeping I still hear the angels speaking but I can't recall a single thing they said
I see their lips move clearly I feel their presence near me
but all their unearthly wisdom just slips through the cracks
I push I strain I wrestle with my brain I retch, I shake, I cry until I break
it burns it hurts I tumble to the earth and as I fall I feel myself relax.


Lyrics submitted by Gallstone, edited by indu

Icarus song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    blogotheque.net/Amanda-Palmer,4670

    I love it! the second verse is pretty obviously about orgasm.... beyond that, I'm not entirely sure what it's about.

    Goldaon February 08, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is a song about exploring something new and getting overwhelmed. Assuming you all know the story of Icarus and his wax wings. With the sexual undertones I would have to say this is a song about exploring your sexuality and feeling awkward about it. Maybe Webley got into something really kinky and felt a little over his head.

    TheoryofRandomon July 19, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "I wretch, I shake, I cry until I break and then I feel something release and I relax."

    Orgasm? That sounds way more like constipation to me :P

    Plus, you know, Sickness? Fever, Flu, Malaria? "I push, I strain, I wrestle with my brain, and then a voice from somewhere whispers to relax." "It burns, it hurts, I tumble to the Earth, and ... I feel myself relax."

    Dude's just totally frustrated with not being able to poop and uses the Icraus myth as a metaphor. Or, you know, the sex thing.

    feedmylegon April 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    There are actually several differences between the first verse and the third.

    Instead of "I can hear the angels" it says "I still hear the angels".

    Instead of "each word they try to tell me" it says "down there unearthly wisdom".

    That's the only problems I see.

    Jwaxoon April 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hm. i feel like the second verse is about finding sadistic pleasure in the melding of the senses between the mind and body when ill. it's crazy i know, not quite sure how i got the idea, but it's just tainted how i see the song now.

    brilliant song.

    tinylittlewordson November 27, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    A lot of people seem to relate this song to sex- and there are obvious sexual references- but it has always made me think more of drug addiction. It really is an incredible song.

    ratboneson March 27, 2014   Link

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